Sunderland are hoping to sign Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff in January.
Sunderland are quite interested in Notts County’s Macauley Langstaff, and they will have to pay roughly £1.5 million to sign him.
The Black Cats have had a tumultuous season, but they currently lie seventh in the Championship table, making promotion to the Premier League a real possibility.
However, if they are to progress under Michael Beale, it appears that they will need a new number nine, as a lack of goals from a striker has been a key issue this season.
So, the focus ahead of the deadline must be to bring in a forward, and it was reported earlier this week that Langstaff was on Sunderland’s radar.
In a new update, the Sunderland Echo claimed that the 26-year-old is a target, but they will not have a free run at the player.
“Sunderland’s interest in Notts County striker Macaulay Langstaff is genuine, The Echo learns. However, other clubs will compete for his signature.
“The forward is also being tracked by Middlesbrough Derby County and Peterborough United. The prolific goalscorer joined Notts County from North East club Gateshead in 2022 and helped the club win promotion from the National League last season, netting 42 goals in 47 appearances.
“It is understood that Notts County would prefer a fee of around £1.5million for Langstaff during the January transfer window with the striker currently at the top of the division’s scoring charts.”
Macaulay Langstaff’s career thus far
This would be a significant step up for the 26-year-old, who has never played beyond League Two level and is in his debut season in the Football League.
However, many expect Langstaff to be able to manage the step up, since he has been superb for the Magpies since his arrival from Gateshead, scoring 42 goals as they gained promotion from the National League the previous season.
He has followed that up with 20 this season as Notts County seeks back-to-back promotions.
That demonstrates Langstaff’s goal-scoring instincts, as his poise and movement set him apart from the rest of the lesser levels.
Nonetheless, the improvement is significant, but Sunderland will rely on Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke, and Paddy Roberts to generate opportunities, and Langstaff might be the one to capitalise on them.
Furthermore, despite the fact that he is not the youngest, the County player would fit the mold of what Sunderland are seeking for, as he would be hungry and ready to show himself at a higher level, rather than someone looking for a final payday.
In any case, Beale and the recruitment staff will undoubtedly need to sign a new striker in the coming weeks, as the rest of the season will depend on it.
